As kids, sisters Mary Ann Garnett & Martha Garnett attended Lindsey Wilson Training School (1933-1979). She remembers some very special teachers: Frances Durham and Helen Flatt, but admits her favorite class was gym. All the kids had crushes on the coaches, she remembers.Click on headine for complete story with photo(s).

By Duane Bonifer, Public Relations DirectorNews from Lindsey Wilson College

COLUMBIA, KY - Mary Ann Dowling’s mother learned to drive a car so that she and her sister could attend school at Lindsey Wilson Training School.

That was one of the memories Dowling shared Saturday afternoon while she visited the campus where her grade school once stood. Dowling was at Lindsey Wilson Saturday, January 31, 2015, with her husband, Tom, who helped present the Mid-South Conference East Division football trophy that bears his name to the LWC programBuilding which housed most of the classes now razed

Mary Ann Dowling attended the Lindsey Wilson Training School with her older sister, Martha Chamberlain. The training school -- which was established in 1933 to help train LWC education students -- was closed in 1979. The building that housed most of the school's classes was also razed.

Dowling graduated from the Lindsey Wilson Training School in 1950. She went on to Adair County schools and then graduated from Georgetown (KY) College.

Grew up in Zion Community of Adair County

Dowling, who grew up in Adair County's Zion community, was the daughter of an LWC legacy. Her father, the late Henry Garnett, was a 1922 graduate of the college, as were her aunts. Dowling said her mother, the late Frances Garnett, learned how to drive so she take her and her sister to Lindsey Wilson Training School.

Dowling, who now lives in Corbin, KY, said that two Lindsey teachers defined the first six years of her education: the late Frances Durham and Helen Flatt.

"They were both wonderful -- they made you enjoy learning," she said.

Mrs. Flatt led students through the college farm for nature studies

Dowling recalled Flatt leading students through the farm that was part of the Lindsey Wilson so they could observe the flowers, insects and wildlife they studied in science class.

"She did it all. She was wonderful," Dowling said. "She really made it fun to learn."
Students learned and recited names of all (48) States

Flatt also had students memorize the then-48 U.S. states and capitals and then recite them. "You never forget it doing it that way," Dowling said.

In addition to the Training School Building, some training school classes were held in the L.R. McDonald Administration Building basement, and the students ate lunch in the former Hundley Hall. Dowling said training school students used the LWC library, which was overseen by legendary staffer and LWC alumna Katie Murrell.

Katie Murrell Library had very nice children's section

"It had a very nice children's section," she said.

But Dowling said the highlight for the training school's female students was physical education class, which was held in the gymnasium on what is now the main floor of the W.W. Slider Humanities Center.

Couldn't wait for gym class

"Our teachers were always members of the men's basketball team, and we all had crushes on them, so we couldn't wait for gym class," she said.

This story was posted on 2015-02-01 07:38:24

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